Chris Beard has emerged as the leading candidate for the basketball job at Ole Miss.

Beard was fired by the Texas Longhorns in January in the wake of an arrest on the morning of Dec. 12. His fiancée, Randi Trew, called 911 and told officers that he choked her from behind, bit her and hit her when the two got in an argument.

Trew later released a statement on Dec. 23 in which she denied telling police that Beard choked her and said she "initiated a physical struggle" with Beard. On Feb. 15, the charges were dropped after Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza reviewed the evidence and took into account Trew's wishes not to prosecute Beard.

Ole Miss fired Kermit Davis on Feb. 24.

Texas has fired Chris Beard as head coach, less than a month after he was suspended without pay following his arrest on a domestic family violence charge.

Associate head coach Rodney Terry, who has been the acting head coach since Beard's suspension, will remain in charge the rest of the season.

Beard was arrested on the morning of Dec. 12 after his fiancée, Randi Trew, told officers he choked her from behind, bit her and hit her when the two got in an argument.

rew released a statement on Dec. 23 in which she denied telling police Beard choked her.

"Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening," Trew said in her statement. "Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that. I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way."

University of Texas head coach Chris Beard was arrested Monday morning on a felony domestic violence charge.

"He is in our custody," senior public information officer for Travis County Sheriff's Office Kristen Dark told ESPN. "I can confirm he is the person who is in our booking process."

Beard was arrested by police in Austin, Texas, and has been booked on a third-degree charge of "assault of a family/household member impede breath circulation," or strangulation.

Austin police told ESPN they received a "disturbance hotshot" call, and officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of Vista Lane shortly after midnight Monday. The Austin Police Department's website defines a "hotshot" call as "incidents which are in progress are an immediate threat to life and/or public safety. ... These calls are dispatched immediately."

Said the school in a statement: "The University is aware of the situation regarding Chris Beard. We are continuing to gather information and monitoring the legal process."